responsibilities, or from an accurate survey of the difficulties by which we are encompassed. It is good for the mariner to inspect the chart of his voyage before his departure, that not one rock, quicksand, or shoal may escape his vigilance, but that he may be prepared when they are nigh to steer safely and prosperously past them, And even should we be over depressed by the contem-plation, or rendered over anxious by the anticipation, it is far better to be over watchful than too supine, over vigilant than to sleep too securely because ignorantly, too careful in shunning even the appearance of evil, than over reckless in encountering it. To be himself, then, first imbued with a sound and accurate knowledge of the leading principles of our religion, combined with an earnest desire and continual waiting for fuller instruction, which implies an appreciation of religion in the life, should be the great object of the Teacher.

I fear that we are often inclined to forget that such a knowledge requires much diligence to be expended on it, From somewhat the same notion as that by which most men are persuaded that they can compose religious poetry, because religion is the business of every man, its truths are considered to be so superficially exposed, as to be within the reach of all without toil or labour. Now, this idea is partly true, and partly false. The leading truth of the Gospel, without which a man cannot be saved, is so plainly and undisguisedly revealed, that even a wayfaring man shall not err therein; but to comprehend the full proportion of faith, the connection of truths with each other, so as to form one beautiful harmony, so as that each may fit into the rest without deformity or disproportion, to be able to fill up truthfully and clearly the outline of the Gospel, this demands a diligence of no ordinary kind. Besides, what may be in the thief on the cross full knowledge for him, may be in one whose life is devoted to the instruction of others, and teeming with religious advantages, utter nakedness. So plain indeed is the vision of God's word, as an old writer remarks, that he who runs may read; but, without doubt, he that stands still, and surveys it with leisure and attention, will enter more into its spirit, and be more

ravished with its beauty. The prize, moreover, of heavenly wisdom is to be found, according to the Scriptures, only in an ardent search after it. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord. On which Archbishop Leighton remarks, (Works, p. 512,) "Sit down upon thy knees, and dig for it; that is the best posture to fall aright upon the golden vein; and go deepest to know the mind of God in searching the Scriptures."

Nor must it be thought that in thus expatiating on the need of Christian diligence we undervalue the assistance of God's Holy Spirit. Without his aid all our efforts, as far as the real improvement of ourselves and others is concerned, are useless; but such a diligence is quite consistent with an entire dependance on his heavenly guidance. For when he has promised the blessing to the diligent, we work because we believe, and depend on the belief, that he blesses such. "To get assurance regarding the foundations of the faith, and clear views of the truth itself, to have a prompt and secure command of Scripture, to possess a large acquaintance with the great salvation, and a minute acquaintance with all the details of Christian duty; all this needs no less diligence on our part, because God must give it, or we can never show it." (Hamilton's "Life in Earnest," 112.) It must be then exceedingly useful to be possessed of some guide (as our business lies mainly with the word of God) to a right interpretation of its various parts. It is proposed, therefore, in dependence upon his blessing who saith that to him that hath shall more be given, to lay down in some following papers those rules which are calculated to assist us in the general interpretation of the Scriptures, and I shall avoid as much as possible a subject which is indeed closely connected with it, but yet entirely distinct, verbal criticism, a subject which is well suited to the learned or the linguist, but which would evidently be greatly misplaced here. The need of such a guide, to add a word in the conclusion of this introduction, is too clear to require much proof. It will be a help in keeping us from error, when we see around us so many fanciful

or wrong applications of the words of Scripture in support of the private opinions of men, and so many fundamental errors in large bodies, all which profess to derive their Creeds from the Bible. It will assist us in keeping a check upon ourselves, which is far from unnecessary, when we consider how prone we are to make the Scriptures square, as it were, with our preconceived notions and prejudices—instead of forming our religious opinions, or testing the truth of them already formed by the sacred text. Such a guide, moreover, will assist us in curbing an over ardent imagination, which is apt to throw out fancies not in accordance with the sober-minded spirit of the inspired record, and in strengthening the judgment in pursuit of truth. Let our motto then be, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deut. xxix. 29.)

PRAYER, THE ESPECIAL DUTY OF SABBATH. SCHOOL TEACHERS.

"Crown all your labours with fervent and habitual prayer.” Ir is important for you in all your exertions, to bear in mind the total and universal depravity of the human race. By this I mean an entire destitution in the human heart by nature, of all spiritual affection, and holy propensities. In this view, every child that comes to your school is, till renewed by divine grace, totally depraved. To change this state of the mind, and produce a holy bias, to create a new disposition, to turn all the affections into a new channel, and cause them to flow towards God and heaven, is the work of the Omnipotent and Eternal Spirit; who, in the execution of his purposes, however, generally employs the instrumentality of man. Now, this view of the case must be ever before your mind; it must mingle with all your plans, and direct all your exertions. You must accurately understand the nature of the materials on which you have to work, and

be intimately acquainted with the source from whence success is to be expected. You must sow the seed in its season, with the diligence of the husbandman; and then exercise, like him, an unlimited dependance upon the influences of the heavens; for it is God that giveth increase to the labours of both.

A spirit of earnest prayer should be the living soul of all your conduct. While your eye is fixed upon the children, your heart should be lifted up to God. You should sit down as between them and the fountain of life; and while opening, by instruction, a channel to their hearts, seek to draw the living stream, by prayer, from heaven. Your closet should also be the scene of your anxiety for their welfare. In those seasons of hallowed seclusion, where your soul makes her nearest and happiest approaches to the throne of divine grace, give it in charge their immortal interests. God loves the prayers of his people, and especially delights in the prayers of pious benevolence. Importune him, therefore, to bless your efforts; confess to him that the work of conversion is all his own; hang the interests of the school upon his arm, and lay them down in the light of his countenance.

Especially on the morning of the Sabbath, in the prospect of your exertions, next to your own growth in grace, seek the principal subject of your prayers, in the welfare of the children. Pray for grace to be found faithful, and to be made sufficient for these things. Entreat of God to rouse you from lukewarmness, and to enable you to feel the weight of others' souls upon your own. Thus qualify yourself, if I may so speak, for your office. Did you come to the school every Sabbath, like Moses from the mount, direct from the presence and the converse of God, bringing all the solemn tenderness with which you had supplicated for the children at the mercy seat, what a character would be imparted to your deportment! The solemn air of eternity, irradiated with the beams of heavenly glory, would be visible upon your countenance, while the meekness of Jesus, and the mercy of the Gospel, breathed forth in all your language, would admonish the children, that it was not a time for

them to trifle, when their Teacher had come to them with "a message from God."

Provided they possess other qualifications in an equal degree, those who are most prayerful will be most successful; on the other hand, it is a matter of little surprise, that no success attends the efforts of those (I mean in the way of spiritual benefit,) by whom the duty is neglected. They labour, as might be expected, in a field on which the dew of heaven seldom distils, and which bringeth forth little else than thorns and briars. Whenever we shall be favoured to perceive a spirit of prayer resting upon the great mass of our Teachers, and insinuating itself into all their exertions, we shall not wait long before we have a degree of success among the children, which will delight and astonish us; for it is said of Jehovah, that "He heareth prayer."

UNITED PRAYER.

DEAR SIR,-The subject which I wish to submit to the consideration of your numerous readers is that of United Prayer.

In your July number, after having given some truly "Useful Hints for Teachers," you conclude by saying, "Let all engaged in this delightful work unite as a body in earnest prayer, one for another; for I feel convinced, if such were the case, our feeble efforts would be more abundantly blessed by God." Of the truth of your conviction, I think that no Christian can entertain a doubt. But how are we to "unite as a body in earnest prayer, one for another"? This must be spiritually, and not bodily each teacher praying in secret for others. May not, however, the fellow-labourers of one school unite? We all know that the prayers of a body of Christians are very efficacious in obtaining the blessings sought for. If, therefore, a number of teachers were to unite in heartfelt prayer for the blessing of God upon their labours, we cannot doubt that they would be abundantly answered.

There are two difficulties which will probably be pre